“Abby? Abby are you ready?” She came out of the house, the snow had stopped; her father was near the sled getting the dogs ready for the hunt. “Just a moment father let me get my bow.” She ran back into the house, it was warm and smelled good, she grabbed her bow.
Her mom said. “Abby get your coat.” Abby placed her bow back down and grabbed her coat made of wolf skin, it was very soft, the hair tickled her nose a little and her mother came over to her with a wicker basket. “Here take this with you, you will get hungry.”
The basket was warm and heavy a pot inside with a towel covering it and making another barrier, Abby took it after putting her bow on her back and went out the door, the air fresh, the trees around their home had been cleared a long time ago to make the house, the stream downhill was still running, so not as cold as it could get in the deepest of winters.
She got on the sled with her father, he turned to her his
beard was much whiter now than before, his forehead had many lines running across it, and he said. “What is this?” Abby took the lid off and moved the towel aside, there was flat bread for dipping and taking the lid off the clay pot inside, a wild pig stew with vegetables and gravy. Abby took a piece of the flat bread and dipped it in, she scooped and a little fell on her coat.
“Oh.” She said in disappointment. “It’s okay we can clean that later. Do you remember the spot we found where the water pooled and was a great spot?” He asked as he took a piece and dipped it in, and started chewing. “Uhh hmm.” She responded with her mouth full eating. Her father swallowed and said. “We are going there and have a ways to go.”
He handed the reins to her, she looked at him surprised. “What you have driven them before, come on lets go.” Abby said. “Come on boys.” The dogs heard her and perked up, each still weighed more than she did. She flung the reign up and the dogs pulled as they pushed with their legs on each side to ease the start up and off they were going.
She grabbed another piece of bread as she watched to her left and got more of the stew; it was good her mother sure knew how to cook. “Dad, how did you meet mom?” He sat up and looked at the sun moving through the trees in thought.
“Well I never was one to be around people, I prefer nature as cruel as she can be and wanted to be out in the wild. I found the spot our house is on, and near the stream and smaller trees found it perfect to harvest and build. I was outside one day in the summer and had been cutting down more trees for the house. Getting tired I took a break and laid down near some brush.”
“I heard a twig snap, and not knowing what it was got ready for any type of animal to come, and looked around; there she was gathering food from the forest, berries and roots. The most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She looked over to me still hiding in the bush and said she knew I was there; and to come out.”
“I asked her how she knew, and she responded that she could smell me from a mile away. I had worked up a good sweet and stunk something fierce. I asked her if she was from the nearby village and she said yes. She asked me where I lived and I told her in the wild and building a house and pointed over to the start of it.”
“She followed me to the house, very small only to my chest at the time. I told her that a few more stacks of wood and I was about to start the roof, she entered into it through the entrance, there was no door yet. She said it looked like it was going to be comfortable but needed a fireplace to warm and cook by and pointed where it should be.”
Abby looked at him and said. “So she told you were to put it, did she?” He cleared his throat and said. “No, I was going to put it there anyway.” “Sure dad.” She said back smiling and then noticed a fell tree in the way and slowed the dogs to a halt.
“Oh man, we will have to go on foot from here, that makes it a little longer than I wanted; but it will have to do. Get your stuff.” Abby grabbed one more piece of bread and finished the stew and noticed some had fallen on his
beard. “You have some food on your
beard.” He said back. “Saving it for later.” With a wink.
They both dug the spikes in on both sides of the sled to hold it in place and took a smaller sled off the back that they could carry. She pet the dogs as he took the sled and pushed it over the top of the fallen tree, he got on top and said. “Hand me my arrows please.” She grabbed his quiver and gave it to him, and he placed it on his lower back.
He pulled her up and then dropped her down on the other side, he dropped down he wore many layers of animal skins, more than she. Abby was a little torch and needed less than he did, he picked up his bag of supplies on his shoulder a bit and grabbed the sled and started to pull it forward.
“So when did she finally move in….” her voice got fainter as they left the dogs behind, and it was silent. The dogs whimpered a little and then laid down, they had more energy than that short ride. A rustle was heard to the side and the dogs turned to it and looked over as a female bear came out.
The dogs did not bark and got up wagging their tails, they knew her she had come around many times and was saying hi. The bear came down and grabbed one of the dogs with its front legs and hugged the dog, the dog just let it, and then started to lick the arm of the bear. She sat down and pushed at the others coming around her, playing with them.
After a few minutes the bear finally grunted a few times. “Uhhrr, uuuhhhrrr.” Slowly her two cubs came out, carefully. The lead dog lay down on the ground its paws in front of it, and one cub came close and sniffed his feet. It inched closer and finally licked the dog’s nose, the dog licked it back. The cub finally felt safe and having a lot of energy, stood on its hind legs and pounced down on the dog, with no claws. The dog went to its back showing its belly and they spun around playing in the snow.
Tom listened, and said to Abby. “So your job is to hunt?” Abby looked at him and said. “Well yes, we farmed, gathered and hunted; what do you do?” Tom smiled and said “I am a knight I fight for the king.” Abby looked confused. “Fight for the king, what do you mean?”
Tom shrugged his head, dirty blonde like hers but short cut his face was mostly shaven, it had been a few days. “Well sometimes people attack the kingdom and we go to stop them, and if they do not stop we go and teach them a lesson and take over their land for a time.”
Abby stopped Runner. “You take their land?” Tom stopped as well. “It happens all the time and for as long as I have been alive, not all are a civilized people.” She wondered what he thought was civilized. Tom said. “We are almost there, you probably will be shocked a little.”
They started to come out of the woods, and her eyes got bigger, a port city. Rocks had been placed in a long line in the water for the boats to more, there were many types large and small in the water, she could see some further out and nets being thrown out and pulled back in. The entire city looked to be made of stone, some of wood.
There were so many people more than she had ever seen before; smoke came out of many chimneys, the smell of food cooking in the air. Tom breathed in. “Uhmm the food, wait until you try the food, you can be my guest at the table.” Abby looked at him. He said. “There is a banquet as well with the king and queen and a feast like no other, and entertainment, drink you name it.”
“And you can go to this banquet?” Tom said. “Come on lets go, I said I work for the king, his name is King Stephen, she is Queen Adeola, they have over 200 servants.” “200!” Abby said in astonishment. Tom shook his head yes and said. “It takes a lot of people to cook for so many, to wash the bedding and clothes, make new garments, tend to the flock and animals; yes over 200.”
They came closer to the city and the noise of people busy got louder, there was music in the distance at first they passed thatched houses and then it turned to a mixture of clay and brick and finally to larger stone. They entered the market, children were running around with poles and long flags flowing behind them, red and white, some had blue and purple.
She followed Tom into the city and saw the castle it towered above them, tall and overlooking the city; she then noticed cages. Inside were men, woman and children, in one she saw a young boy probably around eight alone in a cage his hair messed up and he looked very hungry. “Why are these people in cages?”
Tom kept riding and said. “Those we conquer who will not stop fighting we take as slaves.” Abby stopped her horse and got down, she walked over to a stand where food was being sold, she asked how much for the turkey leg she saw, the man told her but she did not understand and took out a piece of silver. The man’s eyes got big, he handed her two and then a lot of change, as Tom watched over them and made sure she got the right amount.
Abby went over to the young boy in the cage and handed him both turkey legs, he took it fast and bit into it taking a large chunk into his mouth, and chewed fast; he smiled at her. Abby got back onto Runner and they continued.
“How will I know who the king and queen are?” She asked, he responded. “You will know when you see them, surrounded by guards and at the top of the stadium for the best view.” After a few more minutes they passed into the arena, there were knights in armor sitting in chairs, two were dueling with swords, the crowd was cheering.
Abby stopped she could see people looking her way, and a man came up. “Are you selling those skins and swords?” She looked down at him and said. “Yes.” He said “Those are antique I will take them all.” “All?” she said in astonishment. “What is your price?” Abby looked over at Tom, he said to the man. “Michael I know your kind, pay her the fair price.”
He took out a leather purse and poured gold coins into his hand and started to count, he finally counted out 36 pieces of gold and handed it to her, and then added ten more. “For the horses, if they are for sale.” “They are.” She took the 36 pieces and added it to her purse, and just like that all was sold and she looked at Tom.
“Not a bad day’s catch if you ask me.” He pushed his horse forward and Abby was able to see how he said she would know. The king was in sitting in the shade of the tarp above, a thick hat on his head, a heavy coat, what looked like a gold chain around his neck and rings on his fingers. The woman beside him, was in a white dress flowers stitched on the garment, her hair was up in a bun, her attire was less flaunting.
She had earrings, and rings on her fingers as well, a simple necklace but with a stone hanging in the middle; she waved at someone across the way with a smile.
Abby could see in the distance archers, and said. “I can do that.” Tom had stopped his horse and got down. “Well actually you will not.” “Why?” she asked. He said back. “Woman are not allowed to participate in the games, but can watch.” Abby looked at him, she said. “That is bull, I can do better than any man here.”
Tom shrugged, and said. “It is what it is. I need to get suited up” He took the latch off a bag on the side and took out a cloth and handed it to her. “What is this?” She asked. “This is the crest of my family, keep it with you, cheer me on.”
Abby took the cloth; two lions were on it, a shield and sword and axe. “I will be back out in a few, just go watch and enjoy.” Tom went to the left he handed over his horses to a boy who took them to a coral with many others, he armor taken by a few more and followed him under the stage to be dressed.
Abby let Runner be taken as well and walked with her bow and arrows on her, her dagger on the side, two smaller hidden by her shins. She went past them in the rear as two other men started to duel. She finally made it to the stands watching the archery contest.
Men were lined up, aiming and shooting. They all hit the target but few arrows were even near the center. She watched from the side, children were running around the a pole crisscrossing each other weaving the cloth down the pole, a festival, one man was passed out under a tree already drunk early in the morning. A boy went up to him and tickled his nose, the drunken man swiped, and the boy kept on laughing silently. The man kept at it, eyes closed thinking a bug.
Abby watched for some time and finally got tired of seeing them miss the mark, she took an arrow out and got ready, as the men loosed she did as well, hers hit center and with one more arrow than those in the contest they looked around and finally saw her with her bow in her hand.
“You, come here!” A large man said to her, the crowd looked at her, and she went forward looking at them all, the crowd was silent. “Did you shoot that arrow?” “Yes I did.” “Why you are not allowed?” “These men can’t aim and hit that target this close, then they are not very good archers.”
The man put up a finger to the crowd, and said. “Okay, okay then do you see the target way out there?” Abby nodded yes. “Hit that then.” He stood back as she aimed, and loosed, the arrow flew and hit just left of center, but still center, she took another arrow and loosed it, it hit just right of the first. Her third hit dead center all in the middle.
The man and the crowd watched, and some woman and girls in the stands started to cheer. “Give her the reward.” They started to chant. “Give it to her!” The crowd got louder and even some men stood and clapped at her accuracy. Then it all went silent the people around her knelt down, and Abby turned.
The queen was walking towards her, with guards. “I am queen Adeola, and you are?” “My name is Abby.” The queen got closer to her and looked her over, and asked. “Are you here with anyone?” Abby took out the cloth Tom gave her and handed it to the queen. “I came with Tom.”
“You know Tom?” She waved off the guards and gave the cloth back to Abby. “Show me your skill again on the closer target.” Abby took an arrow and hit the center dead on, and her second arrow split the first. “What do you do for a living?” The queen asked. “I am a hunter.” Abby responded. The queen nodded and said to her. “Take the purse your better than any man here.”
She glared at the man, and he took the purse and handed it to Abby, there was more coin inside, the queen went to one of the guards and spoke to him, he took out an envelope and handed it to the queen. She then took it and gave it to Abby. “If any gives you trouble, just show them this paper. I look forward to dining with you tonight and talking to you.”
The queen smiled and walked back to the main stands, and Abby followed behind slowly. She saw a flag with the same emblem given to her by Tom, and then recognized his horse. He was in full armor, a long lance in his arm. He lowered his visor, and nodded across the way. A young male lowered a flag pole in the middle and from both sides she watched as the two came at each other at full gallop.
She saw them both lower their lances at the same time and then they struck each other, both spun slightly in their horses. Abby put her hands to her face; she could not believe what she was seeing. “One point each.” From the opposite side they were given another lance and did the same again. This time Tom un-mounted the other man from his horse, he fell to the ground his armor clanged as he hit the ground, two males went out to help him stand again.
Tom raised his visor, to help himself get fresh air. The king and queen stood and cheered him on; Tom was their top knight in service to the crown for years and trusted by them. Abby watched as many went through the same process and back to Tom. Abby was less afraid as she watched the armor protected them and the lances were breaking on impact easily.
Abby glanced over, and went back to the sword contest arena. Still more armor, but what caught her attention was when one man took off his helmet. His face was inked Blue, and then she noticed a group watching in the stand across from her, more Blue inked faces. They were here.
